2-Day Benin Cultural and Historical Tour From Cotonou

Ouidah Benin Door Of No Return

Traveller with a snake

Ganvie Stilt Village

La Casa Del Papa

Amatsonin muistomerkki

Show all 6 photos

Highlights

Explore Cotonou's vibrant landmarks, including the Bio Guerra Statue

Experience Ganvie's unique stilt village life on Lake Nokoue

Discover Ouidah's sacred Python Temple

Wander through the mystical Sacred Forest, learning about Voodoo traditions

Witness traditional Voodoo ceremonies, offering cultural insights

Reflect on history along the Enslaved African Road, contemplating Benin's past

Cotonou, Ganvié, Ouidah

nature, historical, Tribal

Group Tour

2 Days

Easy

English, French, Spanish

Description

Explore Cotonou's vibrant cityscape and Ouidah's cultural gems on this guided tour of Benin. Led by local experts, begin with iconic landmarks like the Bio Guerra Statue and Amazon Square in Cotonou. Then, delve into Ouidah's rich heritage with visits to the Python Temple, Zinsou Foundation Museum, and the mystical Sacred Forest. Finally, immerse yourself in traditional Voodoo ceremonies and reflect on the Enslaved African Road, offering profound insights into Benin's history and culture.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cotonou & Ganvie Discovery
- Our professional local tour leaders will meet with you.
- Make yourself known to your guides who will be accompanying you for the duration of your time in Benin, and they will take care of you from here.
- Boarding our dedicated vehicle, which will serve as your transportation for the tour, we commence the Cotonou City Tour.
- The first stop is the Statue of the Hero Bio Guerra, dedicated to the Wassangari prince warrior born in 1856. This statue, inaugurated in 2022, pays homage to Bio Guerra's anti-colonial resistance in the North-Eastern part of Benin.
- Next, we visit Amazon Square, showcasing the giant monument of Dahomey Kingdom's powerful women, the Amazon or Agojie of Dahomey. Known for defending their territories against enemies and colonial powers in the 17th to 19th centuries, these female warriors inspired the film Woman King.
- Our tour proceeds to the Cotonou Craft Market for souvenir shopping.
- Leaving Cotonou, we head to Ganvie, known as the Venice of Africa, a stilt village with over 40,000 inhabitants on Lake Nokoue.
- A serene day may include trying fishing with locals and, if successful, enjoying a local-style grilled fresh fish.
- Finally, we transfer you to your accommodation for check-in and relaxation.
Accommodation: Cotonou or Ouidah
Day 2: Ouidah Cultural Tour
- After breakfast, we explore the sacred Python's Temple in Ouidah, where pythons are revered, protected, and given proper burials as sacred beings.
- A visit to the Zinsou Foundation Museum follows, founded in 2005, showcasing modern contemporary art from global artists.
- The tour continues with the Sacred Forest of Ouidah, offering insights into Voodoo religion, a prominent practice in Benin.
- Witnessing the annual Voodoo festival is a unique and unforgettable experience.
- Post-lunch, we embark on the Enslaved African's Road tour, reflecting on the historical shipping of enslaved Africans from Ouidah during the 17th and 18th centuries.
- This tour concludes with a transfer to the airport for departure or your chosen final destination.
- Departure or Drop-off

What's Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Water

Accommodation

Transportation with Air-conditioned

Fuel

Guide

Driver

Excursion Fees

What's Excluded

Flight

Visa

Travel Insurance

Beverage(Soft Drink, Beer, Whisky)

Know Before You Go

Visas: Most travellers planning to visit Benin, Togo, and Ghana will need to obtain a visa before their travel. It is important to note that depending on the specific requirements of the embassy you apply at, you may also need an invitation letter. We are here to assist you with providing the necessary invitation letter if required. However, visa regulations are subject to change, and it is advised that you contact your nearest embassy for the most current and accurate information.

Health and vaccinations: We are not medically qualified and cannot provide advice on recommended vaccinations. It is important to consult your doctor or nearest health professional for personalized recommendations based on your specific health condition and travel plans. They will be able to assess your individual needs and provide guidance on necessary vaccinations to protect against potential health risks at your destination. Additionally, for further information and guidance on vaccinations, you can visit the website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. Remember, it is always better to be proactive and prioritize your health and well-being while traveling. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to Benin, Togo and Ghana and you must bring this with you.

Insurance: It is a condition of joining our tours that you have suitable travel insurance in place, and we cannot accept travellers without insurance. All policies differ in terms of what they will cover, but as a minimum, you need medical and health cover which will cover you for the whole time that you are away. Most policies will also include cancellation cover, which will cover you if an unforeseen circumstance obliges you to cancel your trip. We recommend that you obtain your insurance as soon as you book your trip. Please note that government travel warnings often affect the validity of your travel insurance, and you should check this with your insurance company.

Money: The local currency in Ghana is the cedi, while in Togo and Benin it is the West African CFA, a currency that is shared with many other countries in the region. It is not however, the same as the Central African CFA, and the two are not interchangeable. It is best to bring Euros for exchange purposes as the CFA is not obtainable outside of the region. It’s not difficult to change money here, either at banks or the hotels and your guide can assist with this. There are also an increasing number of ATMs in larger towns. However, these are not always reliable and so it is best to think of them as a back up rather than a main means of obtaining money. Credit cards are accepted in larger hotels and better restaurants (usually in larger cities only) but are not commonly accepted elsewhere. You should also be aware that credit card fraud is not uncommon in the region and so should you choose to use one, do bear this in mind.

Local conditions: When travelling to some of the destinations we offer you need to bear in mind that things won’t always work here as we’re used to them working at home. Travelling in underdeveloped and untouristed destinations requires both patience and a sense of humour. There may be problems with infrastructure, attitudes may be different, and maintenance may not be as high a standard as we would always like, but this is very much part and parcel of travelling in such a place. We aim to resolve any issues as quickly as possible, and thank you for your patience.

Travel advice: We keep a very close eye on the travel advice issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that we can keep you up to date with any warnings. At the time of writing the FCO does not advise against travel to any parts of Benin, Togo or Ghana that we visit. This relates to advice from the British government – other nationalities need to check the stance of their own governemments. Please note that the information contained above is highly susceptible to change, and while we endeavour to keep up to date we recommend that you use this as a guide only. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Updated July 2023.

More than 75% of the population actively practices Voodoo alongside new faiths.

Nearby, Africa's Longest Graffiti Wall, inaugurated in 2021, narrates the history of the Kingdom of Dahomey and modern Benin

Martyrs Square, also known as Souvenir Square, follows, commemorating the victory of Benin's martyrs on January 16, 1977, defending the nation against mercenaries

What To Bring

Long clothes

Insect or Mosquito repellent

Sun protection cream/spray

Comfortable trainers/sneakers

Meeting Point

Cotonou, Benin

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations within 24 hours before the tour -

Refund of 50% of the tour price.

Price

Persons
1 to 4	/person
5 to 10	/person
11 to 35	/person
This is a group tour

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

/person

Persons

Total

0.00

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

2-Day Benin Cultural and Historical Tour From Cotonou

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Cotonou & Ganvie Discovery

Day 2: Ouidah Cultural Tour

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

Choose Currency

2-Day Benin Cultural and Historical Tour From Cotonou

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Cotonou & Ganvie Discovery

Day 2: Ouidah Cultural Tour

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

Choose Currency Close modal

Cookie icon We use cookies!

Choose Currency